UNESCO, in conjunction with the International
Astronomical Union, has decreed 2009 to be the
International Year of Astronomy. It marks the
400th anniversary of Galileo's first use of the
telescope and recognizes his controversial but
revolutionary discoveries that began modern
star-gazing.

Australia has long been a major player in both
optical- and radio-astronomy, and the Royal
Australian Mint has marked this international
occasion with the issue of a special proof and
uncirculated IYA dollar and a special proof and
uncirculated IYA 20-cent coin. Both are
available as part of six- and two-coin proof and
uncirculated sets.

The IYA $1 coin features an image of the Parkes'
radio telescope, located 20 kilometers north of
Parkes, NSW. Forty years ago this scope was one
vital link in receiving images of that historic
"one giant leap for mankind" when Apollo 11 moon
landed in July 1969.

The reverse design of the 20 cents takes as its
theme that of the IYA itself: "The Universe,
Yours to Discover." It shows silhouettes of
star-gazers set against a star-chart backdrop.

Both coins were designed by Caitlin Goodall, who
has been with the mint since January 2007.
Caitlin took her starry backdrop for the 20
cents from an old star chart that blended
astronomical constellations with zodiacal
astrology. Readers with an interest in the
heavens may wish to take a close look at her
design. The choice of chart may explain why
Caitlin's stylized constellations appear to more
closely resemble those of the northern sky
rather than those seen Down Under.

The coins were launched by the mint at a
prestigious Star Party at the nation's capital
on Nov. 7. It provided a great precursor to the
upcoming International Year of Astronomy. Senior
Aussie astronomers were in attendance, and a
fabulous light show took place, during which
locally-taken astrophotographs were projected
across the walls of the mint building.

Collectors need to note that to get both proof
and BU examples of both IYA coins it is
necessary to buy all four sets. The proof IYA
dollar comes in the six-coin proof set. Its BU
counterpart comes in the two-coin unc. set where
it is twinned with a standard 2009 platypus
20-cent coin.

The unc. IYA 20 cents is contained in the
six-coin IYA unc. set with the proof version in
a twin set paired with a proof 2009 mob-of-roos
dollar.